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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Salt Lake County could become the first government in Utah to offer full benefits to domestic partners of county employees.
Domestic partners of county employees may soon be eligible for insurance benefits if council members sign off on a new ordinance today.
The proposal has been pushed by Democratic council members Jenny Wilson and Joe Hatch.
Councilman Cort Ashton said he believes residents have already made up their minds on the issue when they approved Amendment three in November. The amendment excludes gay and lesbian couples from legal marriage.
However, Wilson said the ordinance is not about marriage and only aims to equal the scales at the county.
Wilson's ordinance would expand those benefits to partners who have shared the same residence for at least a year and are jointly responsible for living expenses.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
